Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost media).

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Caleb Ward has shared the steep learning curve he experienced as he made his FIM World Motocross Championship debut at Glen Helen last weekend in the United States of America.

Ward was unfortunately the victim of bad luck at the grand prix, following his 15th place result in the opening moto, race two saw the Queenslander become tangled with a fallen rider, only to be forced out of the race three laps later due to a mechanical malfunction.

“Obviously it was a steep learning curve, so much different to anything I’ve done before. This was my first time in a country that wasn’t Australia or New Zealand,” said Ward. “It was a great trip to be a part of, it was also good to see everybody that races the GPs, and watching the 450 guys like Tomac and Cairoli was really awesome. Just to see their style of riding was really cool.”

The 19-year-old was hosted by the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull KTM team, and although he wasn’t aboard their factory specification KTM SX-F 250, he was still grateful for their loan of the bike and their hospitality.

“All the guys were pretty friendly and it was a good experience to be around another team and work with some different people. Their team was a lot different to ours. I wasn’t on their full team bike setup. I’m very grateful that they gave me a bike to ride, but my bike at home would have been a lot better for me because it’s got all my parts on it,” he added.

The KTM rider will now endeavour to be adequately prepared for the 2016 Australian Supercross Championship scheduled to commence this Saturday at Jimboomba in Queensland.